Rule 17 - Emergency petition for Administrative orders(A) Supreme Court Authority. Under the authority vested in the Indiana Supreme Court to provide by rule for the procedure employed in all courts of this state and the Court's inherent authority to supervise the administration of all courts of this state, the Court has the power upon petition from any trial court as set forth herein, or sua sponte, in the event of natural disaster, civil disobedience, wide spread disease outbreak, or other exigent circumstances requiring the closure of courts or inhibiting the ability of litigants and courts to comply with statutory deadlines and rules of procedure applicable in courts of this state, to enter such order or orders as may be appropriate to ensure the orderly and fair administration of justice. This order shall include, without limitation, those rules and procedures affecting time limits currently imposed for speedy trials in criminal and juvenile proceedings, public health, mental health, appellate, and all other civil and criminal matters. The Court also may authorize any petitioning court to move its location from its statutory location to any location the Court deems appropriate, and the Court may authorize any judge of a Circuit or Superior Court to exercise general jurisdiction over any civil or criminal matter.
(B) Trial court petition. When it becomes apparent to the local trial court(s) that an emergency exists, the local trial court(s) shall: 1. Confer with the clerk, bar representative and local official, as the trial court(s) deem necessary and appropriate. 2. Petition the Supreme Court for emergency relief stating: the emergency, the effect it is having or will have on the local administration of justice, the anticipated duration, and any additional information that would aid the Court in its decision making process. 3. Submit the trial court's plan for all civil and criminal matters during the emergency. The petition shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court, with a copy provided to the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration (IOJA). The IOJA shall create form petitions available for trial court use.
(C) When the Supreme Court determines that the petition is made for good cause shown, the Supreme Court may promptly issue an administrative order addressing the emergency on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate. Amended Sept. 15, 2009, effective 1/1/2010; amended Nov. 1, 2017, effective 1/1/2018.